Tips for hiring a local lawn service

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Spring is right around the corner and that means it's time to haul the lawn mower out of the garage each and every week for your weekly landscaping chores.

Wait, maybe not this year.

Maybe this is the year that you hire a lawn service to take care of that grass for you. Then you can spend that time barbecuing with your family, catching a movie or finishing up some other chores that you've been wanting to do.

If the idea of handing over the mowing responsibilities to someone else sounds exciting, here are some tips on finding the right lawn care service for you.

Ask a neighbor

Ask your friends or neighbors who they use.

“We like when our clients are all in the same area, so you might even get a good price because it helps the company,” says Nathan Fink, owner of MW Mowing.

The National Association of Landscape Professionals also offers a directory of landscape professionals in your area.

Find a full-service company

“Hire a company that offers other gardening services besides lawn mowing and care,” says Pol Bishop, a gardening and landscaping expert with Fantastic Gardeners, which is part of Fantastic Services, an international company with branches operating in the U.S. “They'd have more knowledge on maintenance, different types of turf and what kind of care they need.”

If it's a company that specializes only in lawn care and mowing, that is all that they will be able to do for you, so if you need other work done, such as pruning trees, you will need to hire someone else.

“Tree surgery requires a different type of knowledge and equipment, so it's better to look for a company that offers a wide range of gardening services besides lawn care,” Bishop says.

Look for certification, insurance

Lawn care certificates vary by state and you can find out your state's requirements by visiting their Department of Agriculture website.

“Companies that offer lawn care and gardening services must have a pesticide application certification, must be certified by the National Association of Landscape Professionals and have a certificate they are qualified to perform any type of gardening service they offer,” Bishop says.

Every company must ensure the safety of its employees, so make sure the company has workers' compensation and liability insurance.

“If they are mowing and hit a rock and something happens they need to be covered,” said Fink.

Check reviews, equipment

The only way you will know if the company you choose is good and reliable is to check out their previous work and any online reviews about them.

“Photos of previous projects and detailed information on their website is also a plus,” Bishop says.

If you are interested in hiring your neighbor's lawn care company, then simply look at their lawn. “Also take a look at the quality of the lawn care company's equipment,” Fink says. “The big orange equipment is top-of-the-line, so if they are using that, they know what they are doing.”

Compare

Don't rush to pick the first company that responds to your request. “Instead, compare rates and services they offer,” Bishop says. Keep in mind that how often a company mows your lawn will depend on your location's climate.

Once you've hired a company, Fink tells homeowners to let them do their job. “Don't feel obligated that you have to come out and talk to us each time we are there,” he said. “It's nice, but it actually puts us behind schedule.”

A beautifully manicured lawn makes your home look good – there's that curb appeal. Not having to mow it yourself makes you feel good.

The right lawn mowing service can make the entire process an easy one.